“In the end you can't reprimand them for nothing, they were outstanding today. We had enough opportunities to win the game and the team that puts the ball three times in the back of the net and see two goals ruled out... it is disappointing.

“But it shows we are on the right track to giving something to the fans. But against a team that is doing extremely well, we were superior.”

The Portuguese gave Clint Dempsey and Hugo Lloris their full debuts, while also handing Steven Caulker his first start of the season.

And it was the academy product, who last played in a 4-2 Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal, who most impressed Villas-Boas.

“Spurs always promote young talent and young talent is coming through,” he added.

“Andros [Townsend] had a few more minutes today and Caulker was amazing in central defence, very, very steady against one of the best strikers in the world.

“So you see good things with [Kyle] Walker, [Kyle] Naughton, [Gareth] Bale, you see players who have been well taught in their education and it is extremely good to see that.”